This is a spiritual practice. It has been given to Humanity so it might be able to respond to the growing planetary necessity for Human Unity and Cooperation. We are encouraged to undertake Steps to Knowledge. This site is a simple aid to introduce people to this practice. There is much more to learn for anyone who becomes a student. As a Steps student since June 27, 1999, I am a witness for its benefit. Tom Christoffel

11/16/14

Step 320 - I am free to work within the world. Entry for Step 319 - Why should I be afraid when a Greater Power is in the world.

WHEN THE WORLD DOES NOT OPPRESS YOU, you are free to
work in the world. When the world does not intimidate you, you are free to work
in the world. When you recognize that the world is a place calling for your
contribution, you are free to work in the world. Thus, the greater your
experience of Knowledge within your life, the freer you are to work within the
world. And work within the world you will in time, and your work will be far
more effective, far more engaging and far more complete than anything you have done
thus far. In your past you have been afraid of the world, intimidated by the
world, angered by the world and depressed by the world. Therefore, your past
contribution to the world has been limited by these reactions. You have been
ambivalent about being in the world because you were afraid of the world.
Perhaps you have sought refuge in spiritual things, but your true spiritual
nature will redirect you into the world and bring you back with greater power,
certainty and purpose, for you have come to be in the world.

UNDERSTANDING THIS, YOU WILL AGAIN REALIZE the
importance of Knowledge. You will again confirm how much you want to give to
the world and how painful it is for you when this giving is obstructed or withheld.
You have come to work in the world, and you want to do this completely so that
when you leave, you leave with your gifts given and with everything presented. You
have nothing to take Home with you from the world except the reclamation of
relationships. With this understanding, you will become free to be in the
world.

UPON THE HOUR REPEAT TODAY’S IDEA and recognize
that to whatever extent you are still ambivalent about being in the world, your
ambivalence is caused and is being perpetuated by your own intimidation and
fear of the world. Remember this upon the hour so that you may learn the great
lesson that is being taught today, the great lesson that you are becoming free
to be in the world. Here you bring your Ancient Home with you. Here you will
not attempt to escape the world simply because it frightens you, threatens you
or depresses you.

YOU ARE HERE TO GIVE TO THE WORLD, for Knowledge is
greater than the world—the world only being a temporary place where Knowledge
has been temporarily forgotten. In this, you will realize that which gives and
that which receives, that which is great and that which is small. Your work in
the world can now have your complete attention and devotion. Your work can now
have your complete engagement. Thus, your physical life can become fully
meaningful, purposeful and filled with value.

IN YOUR TWO DEEP MEDITATION PRACTICES TODAY,
rekindle the fire of Knowledge within you by re-entering your sanctuary. Remember
to be still. Remember to give yourself to practice. This is the work at hand.
From this work your work in the world will be given freedom to express itself,
and you who are within the world will be given the certainty and the comfort
that your Ancient Home is with you.

Getting out of fear may be one of the most
challenging parts of life on earth. A great promise in this series of Steps is that
a Greater Power is an alternative to “following
the teaching of fear.” On can: “bring yourself out of fear by remembering that a
Greater Power is in the world and by remembering that a Greater Power is in
your life.” This study became more
important to me. Entries from the journal touch on this.

6:55
a.m. May 31, 2000 – Online reading an interview with Benjamin Crème which gave
an overview of the planetary evolution – controlled by the Logos – of the
planet – mail rather than rather the GAIA – female – though he says at master
level there is no sexuality – in the future – 350 years – masters will assume
female form.

The history
he gave connected the major spiritual figures in a reasonable way. Of the five
levels of spirituality, he gave a census of how many were at each level. He
said there are 63 Masters on earth. S2K says there are none.

As
of this section – 3 of 4 – no reference to greater community.

The
benefit to me if such a perspective is to once again accept the idea that I'm a
moving point on a long journey. I might be at the beginning or along to the
middle but I'm not likely to get it all at this life.

To
do the best I can at living, with out judging and becoming discouraged is
the challenge.

[9:23
p.m. 5/31/00 – Being ethical – getting out… How do I get to where I can
contribute w/o this pain?]

10:16
a.m. The pain of giving up my network – the relationships that allowed me to
contribute – vrs – the pain of loss of ego status –

they
act like they can do it – but depth is lacking.

– A
few minutes later – seeing that out of the context of this office – all I've
completed has no value – it is all contextual.

11:11
a.m. I do have an opportunity to do the plan coordination for the region. It
has value to the region and to the world as a model. Is that the best use of my
life – my mundane work?

12:50
p.m. How can I become a free enough and supported enough to follow my vision?

6:55
p.m. Strasburg – Burger King – came for Rotary makeup – but – it's Wednesday so
ate some fat.

Getting
some positive responses to "Regional Intelligence." I should finish
my 2100 view piece – need to do timesheets and & final practice for today.
I'm so distracted – is that ambivalence? ADD?

From
1 – 1:30 p.m. I did practice #1. "Why should I be afraid when a greater
Power is in the world?

I
have concerns/fears about my work @ PDC – it has become a political place – I
had designed the PDC based on Admin support for County Administrators. The
boards have become political and I didn't make the change.

S2K
text step 319 says "This awareness calls for your complete participation
in the world and your complete service to Knowledge. It calls for your complete
engagement in contributing to others because you are a vehicle for the Greater
Power in the world."

– Recognizing
that "a Greater Power is in the world," is to bring me out of fear.

I have the promise, but putting it to work in my
life on a consistent basis will take a long time. Perhaps you will have quicker
success. Let us continue.

NNC

P.S. At Step 320, we are 45 Steps from the end –
Step 365. If you’ve found this and find some appeal in this or other Steps, you
should really go to the beginning blog post. From here you learn about Steps to Knowledge and
can begin it on the day that makes sense and then progress as needed. You can
use the posts on this blog as a companion if it helps. They will remain in
order in the archives - one per Step.

Often it takes 18 months to get through the Steps
once. For this blog, the pace is one-a-day, but it really makes no difference
how fast you do it, only that you begin, persist and repeat. Posts here provide
a trail that may let you have a virtual companion when and if you want one. One
may have to study alone, as I did in the beginning. There are other Steps
students blogging their experience and you might find a person more like you as
a companion, or use a number of such Steps journeys. There are options as well
through the Free School of the New Message.